Palm webOS Human Interface and User Experience VP Leaves for Google

Palm's vice president of human interface and user experience Matias Duarte has in fact officially left the ailing company for the greener pastures of Google, specifically Android.

Reports of Duarte's departure began to circulate early this morning, but no one from either side nor Duarte himself have confirmed this news. Palm has admitted that Duarte has indeed left, the company has refused to confirm where the VP is heading.

Before Palm, Duarte was the vice president of experience design at Helio and before that helped design the Danger Hiptop. Duarte also worked with Andy Rubin on the Sidekick. Rudin is now the head of Android.

Duarte leaves Palm during a transition period. Palm was recently purchased by HP who now has plans to roll out the Linux-based webOS on its Slate, mobile devices and even printers. Duarte had a key role in the design of webOS and introduced it to the public at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show.